Trump's Rationale Is Clear
by John Lawrence
Use tariffs and cuts to social services to justify huge tax cuts - mainly for the rich, but the middle class will get a pittance. Tariffs put money into the Treasury's account at the expense of raising taxes on consumers. Why didn't Kamala stress that she would do tax cuts for the middle class funded by tax increases on the rich? Obviously, tax cuts are a big thing for all Americans as was border security. The Democrats missed the boat by not countering Republicans on these two issues. Bernie Sanders has been blowing the truth for years. His positions need to become mainstream issues for the Democratic party, not left wing fringe issues. Counter Republican propaganda that Bernie is too extreme. So Trump is not too extreme? Medicare should be expanded. So should social security. Lift the cap on social security payments. In 2025, the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax (OASDI) is $176,000. Why should there be a cap on the maximum amount of earnings subject to the social security tax? Let the rich pay more.
Democrats need to make Bernie Sanders' positions on the economy the mainstream views of the Democratic Party. Expand the social safety net. Pay social security recipients more so that they can at least afford to put a roof over their heads. Too many seniors can't afford to pay rent. Child care needs to be free just like public education because it is public education. The costs of child care are putting a tremendous burden on the middle class. The US is the only advanced country that does not have a single payer system for health care with the result that we pay twice as much as people in other countries, and we get much worse results.
The Democrats must not be intimidated by accusations of socialism or communism so that they propose some middle of the road lukewarm policies that don't really solve the problems. Those epithets must be expunged. They're not applicable anyway. Should we shy away from health care for all or child care for all or enough social security so that seniors can live in a dignified manner? One of the most important issues is the fact that most middle class people will never be able to afford a home, and, since a home is an asset that increases in value, they will never be able to accumulate wealth. Because of that they will end up bereft in their old age. Only 50% of the people are invested in the stock market, but the entire middle class should be able to get into a home of their own. There are ways that the government could facilitate that. Otherwise, as more people live paycheck to paycheck (Bernie says this is 60 %), they will be life long renters with the result that only their landlords will be able to accumulate wealth.
